A guide for the landscape architectural design of an urban forest that helps create realms of experience in order to make people more aware of our connection to nature.

The imbalance between how we live and how the natural world around us works leads to a disconnected relationship with nature. Because of this many people see nature that is far away as idyllic, while they see nature that is nearby as a nuisance. If people keep seeing nature as a destination it fuels the belief that real nature is separate from daily life, which creates the feeling that caring for nature is not people’s responsibility or within their power. Therefore this guide contains a method for the design of an urban forest to help people experience nature in daily life. The method is illustrated by a design example through realms of living, moving and visiting in the Hague.

'A Wakening' entails a coming home to our innate essence of what it means to be human and living as part of this interconnected web of life. Through being present with the now, we can envision and work towards desired, collective, and whole futures for all on this earth. 'A Wakening' should be patient. For me, the first step in waking up is to dream. Dream more and deeper and lose myself, first trusting soil and gut and instincts. It is only coming out of the pure egoless dream of making and noticing that 'A Wakening' might be useful to me and, by extension, to the turbulent times we live in. Those whose work I admire are rooted and quiet and know how to go deep and slow and feel things before acting on them. Meanwhile, the earth itself may be waking up and considering spitting us all out.

The way people have different views on how people should love, value, consume,
produce, believe and every other aspect of life is something which is still not
accepted by the majority of society. The idea of these different views, described
as parallel truths, scare most people that feel the comfort of the truths of the
Dominant Culture which could be dangerous when unconsciously accepted.
This thesis is meant to shed a light on an old problem which still has not been
resolved, Alienation. Equally important is to create a common awareness of
our current state, not to abolish everything existing but to have a moment of
reflection to be able to consciously choose to stay or search for a better alternative.